MLB Player News

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen, who has not played in a week due to a rib fracture, remained out of Sunday's lineup against the Padres. The team hopes to avoid putting McCutchen on the disabled list, but it remains a possibility if he doesn't return soon.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley continued to rake and show surprising power in a Saturday win against the host Yankees.

Brantley capped the scoring with a solo home run in the eighth inning and added two singles to sweeten his stat line to .324/.384/.519. He has 17 homers and 74 RBI on the season.

Pirates slugger Andrew McCutchen remains out of the lineup Saturday against San Diego with a side issue that has prevented him from playing since Sunday.

Indians top hitter Michael Brantley was slotted in at designated hitter Saturday against the Yankees due to general leg soreness, per MLB.com. Terry Francona could place him in the same spot Sunday.

"I just think it'll do him some good," Francona said about the rest from playing in the outfield. "He's played a lot of baseball. It seems like he's on base two or three times a game, and he's stealing, going from first to third, running down everything in center field."

Brantley has not shown any dropoff at the plate recently. He is batting .400 in his last 35 at-bats.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton went 1 for 4 with a walk and a solo home run in his team's 2-1 win over the Reds Friday.

Stanton increased his NL-leading home-run total to 28 with the seventh-inning blast. He has homered in back-to-back games while also collecting five home runs in his last nine outings. Stanton owns a .289/.389/.550 line with 28 home runs, 77 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 429 at-bats.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt will be placed on the seven-day disabled list with recurring concussion symptoms, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Belt missed Thursday's game due to recent headaches and visited a doctor Friday. He'll have to pass concussion tests before he can begin to play in game situations again. Belt has hit .237/.296/.446 with 11 home runs and 24 RBI in 186 at-bats.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen was able to swing a bat a few times Friday, but is not in the lineup for the start of a weekend series against the Padres.

McCutchen is still hoping to avoid the disabled list despite missing four games as a result of a rib fracture. 

Though the Marlins are expected to make a "legitimate" long-term offer to outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports some organizational higher-ups are not confident that a deal will get done.

Though Stanton is still two full seasons away from free agency, pressure is mounting on the team to get a deal done. Opposing general managers were told flatly he was not available at the trade deadline, but that tune might have to change if an extension cannot be agreed to. According to the report, Stanton's primary concern at this point is reportedly playing for a contender, something the 55-59 Marlins may not be able to provide.

Stanton made his second All-Star team and has emerged as one of the best all-around hitters in baseball this season. He is hitting .289/.389/.546 while his 27 home runs and 76 RBI lead the National League. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt told reporters he did not have headaches as much as he felt sick, according to the the San Francisco Chronicle. He is expected to be evaluated by a doctor in Kansas City on Friday, leaving his status uncertain for San Francisco's game against the Royals.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper responded to suggestions that he should be demoted by smashing a walkoff home run Thursday to beat the Mets.

Harper slugged a two-run tater to left with one out in the 13th inning. It was his first blast since July 18. He had also singled in the 11th after making four consecutive outs that extended his slump to 4 for 30.